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Two Combined-Cycle Power Plants Launched in Southern Iran

Two Combined-Cycle Power Plants Launched in Southern Iran

The gas units of two combined-cycle power plants (CCPP) in the southern Khuzestan Province came on stream Tuesday in a ceremony attended by Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri.
Four gas turbines, each with a production capacity of 162 megawatts, became operational at the Mahshahr Combined Cycle Power Plant on Tuesday. The gas units cost €128 million ($137 million) and 3.2 trillion rials (about $82 million), IRNA reported.
The power plant will reportedly create 1,200 jobs.
Two gas units also officially came online at Behbahan Combined Cycle Power Plant. The plant's total output capacity is 1,000 MW. Its gas units have a combined output capacity of 332 MW. Behbahan power plant cost €308 million ($328 million), creating jobs for 200 people. The plant's steam unit is due for launch in the next fiscal year that starts on March 21.
A combined-cycle power plant uses both gas and steam turbines to produce up to 50% more electricity from the same fuel than a traditional simple-cycle plant. The waste heat from the gas turbine is routed to the nearby steam turbine, which generates extra power.
Iran is among a handful of countries with the knowhow to build power plants from the ground up. However, the country is taking measures to open up its energy market to multinationals to retool the aging power plants with modern equipment and build new power stations with higher efficiency.
With an installed power production capacity of around 75,000 megawatts, Iran meets almost 80% of its electricity demand from aging thermal plants operating for decades.
It is reported that steps have been taken to gradually convert the conventional plants into efficient combined-cycle units. Close to 12,000 MW is produced from hydroelectric plants and 1,000 MW from the sole nuclear power plant in Bushehr in the south.
Iran wants to expand power generation capacity by 5,000 MW every year through 2021, the end of its sixth five-year economic, social and cultural development plan.
Last month, construction of a 890-MW combined-cycle plant commenced in Khorramabad, Lorestan Province. The power station will be among the first plants to run on highly-efficient F-Class turbines with an efficiency of 58% or higher.